word icon no longer displayed on files

Reassign .doc and .docx files to desktop Word; Windows uses the registered default handler to determine the file-type icon, and this is the next supported step after Office repair has not helped.

Reassociate the Word file types

1. Open Start → Settings → Apps → Default apps.
2. In the search box under Set a default for a file type or link type, enter .docx.
3. Select the current app or generic-file entry, then choose Word.
4. Repeat for .doc.
5. If you use Word templates or macro-enabled documents, repeat for .docm, .dot, .dotm, and .dotx.
6. Close Settings, then restart File Explorer or sign out and back in.

Windows supports assigning defaults by individual file extension, while Microsoft’s Office-specific guidance recommends manually associating Office files with the correct application when repair does not resolve the association problem.^1^^2^

Also test one document by double-clicking it. It should open in the installed Word 2021 desktop application and display the Word icon.

If Word is not offered as an option

If Default apps only offers Microsoft Store search, another application, or no desktop Word entry, the Office file-type registration is probably not available to Windows. Since both Quick Repair and Online Repair have already made no difference, do not repeat them.

Perform a complete Office removal and reinstall:

1. Confirm that Office Home & Business 2021 appears under the Microsoft account originally used to activate it.
2. Close all Office applications.
3. Run Microsoft’s Office uninstall troubleshooter on this PC.
4. Follow all prompts and restart when requested.
5. Reinstall Office 2021 using the same Microsoft account associated with the purchase.
6. Open Word once and allow activation to complete.
7. Return to Settings → Apps → Default apps and assign .docx and .doc to Word if Windows has not done so automatically.

Microsoft’s troubleshooter supports Office 2021 on Windows 10 or later and is intended to remove Office completely before reinstallation.^3^ Uninstalling Office removes the applications but does not delete documents or workbooks; nevertheless, save open work before starting.^4^

If multiple Office versions appear under Settings → Apps → Installed apps, remove versions you no longer use before reinstalling Office 2021. Multiple versions can cause Office files to open through the wrong registration.^2^

Avoid downloading icon packs or manually editing HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT; the supported association and clean-reinstall procedures should recreate the Word handlers without risky registry changes.

References

1. Change Default Apps in Windows | Microsoft Support
2. Double-clicking an Office file fails to open it in the correct Office program | Microsoft Support
3. [Office for home](https://support.microsoft.com/office/lifecycle/officeinstall/troubleshoot-installing-office)
4. Error 30088-26 when updating Office | Microsoft Support